Winston Soso inducted into first ever Vincy Hall of Fame

“The Rolls Royce of Calypso,” Winston Soso was inducted posthumously into the first ever Vincy Hall of Fame at a gala ceremony over the Labor Day weekend at the K&L Manor on Glenwood Road in Brooklyn.

Elmo “Magic” Christian – considered New York’s number one promoter during the early 70’s and 80’s, and beyond, and founder and president of the Vincy Hall of Fame – told Caribbean Life on Monday that Soso and the Vincentian musical band, Touch, were honored during the sell-out event.

“As another major contributor to the Vincentian music industry, the late Winston Soso was inducted,” said Christian, who continued his tradition of bringing the finest in entertainment to New York audiences with this year’s Vincy Night Extravaganza.

“We take this time to say thank you to our many fans, well-wishers, past members, present members, and all those who played a part in our present and future successes, as we are not done yet,” he added.

Christian said Vincy Night 2023 featured Touch, direct from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and popular artists, such as Skinny Fabulous; Delroy “Fireman” Hooper, the 2023 Soca and Road March Monarch in Vincy Mas; and Kemmy Christopher, the 2033 Vincy Mas Road March Monarch.

Members of the band Touch.Photo courtesy Touch

He said the night of festive dancing and enjoyment was highlighted by the Vincy Music Hall of Fame induction of Touch, winners of multiple road marches, which was part of the initial Vincy Night event 35 years ago, and the legendary Winston Soso, “the man who gave us ‘I Doh Mind’, ‘Pan Yard’, and other memorable Soca hits.”

Consul General of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Rondy “Luta” McIntosh, a soca artiste himself, conducted the induction ceremony.”

Christian said he was “excited” to add the Vincy Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to the Vincy Night Extravaganza.

He said artistes become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first recording.

Christian said the criteria in which inductees were judged included their influence, significance, and contribution in the music industry.

Soso – whose real name was Trevor Lockhart – died on Jul. 18, 2021 at State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center and University Hospital of Brooklyn.

His son, Evan Lockhart, told Caribbean Life that Soso, the former lead singer of the defunct top Vincentian band Clymax, died of multiple medical complications He went to the Great Beyond a few days after his 69th birthday.

“The ABC of Calypso”, Dr. Alston Becket Cyprus, said Soso, “one of the top soca artists in the world”, was the composer and performer of his signature “I Doh Mind”, “one of the greatest soca hits of all time.”

He said Soso had many other big hits, including “How Some Men Love Dey Women”, also called “Big Bottom”; “Ah Feel to Party Tonight”; “Rude Girl Posse”; “Come Ley We Go in The Back and Fool Around”; “Congratulations”; “Don’t Throw Stones”; and “Too Much Corruption.”